Deck railings are important to both the safety and the aesthetic appearance of your deck. In other words, a railing is the perfect blend of "strength and beauty."

A deck railing must be built to comply with your local code requirements. For instance, a deck rail should be at least 36" tall and should not have any gaps that are greater than 4". To ensure its stability, the railing should be securely attached to the deck frame as opposed to the deck surface.

To make your deck railing attractive, you can design a fancy railing that still complies with your local building codes. A simple and visually appealing solution is to create a railing with vertical balusters spaced 4" apart. This is the approach we will cover in this how-to. For complete, step-by-step instructions for this DIY project, watch this friendly and straightforward video tutorial.